Doctors, scientists and economists

Jerome M. Adams

Former U.S. surgeon general; Purdue distinguished professor

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Portrait source: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public domain

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But AI should not operate on its own.

Jerome M. Adams

Former U.S. surgeon general; Purdue distinguished professor

In a 2026 op-ed co-written with Derrick Duke, former U.S. surgeon general Jerome Adams wrote that AI tools for Medicare plan selection should support licensed insurance agents rather than operate on their own.

Distinguished professor at Purdue University, former U.S. surgeon general, and member of eHealth’s public policy advisory committeePublished March 27, 2026 · date of remarks not establishedFierce Healthcare op-ed ‘Empathy meets efficiency—how the responsible use of AI can transform Medicare’

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Surrounding words

… health disparities by making high-quality Medicare guidance more accessible to underserved communities—bringing personalized support to beneficiaries who have historically faced the greatest barriers to navigating complex health systems. But AI should not operate on its own. Licensed insurance agents provide judgment, accountability and empathy. They help beneficiaries understand tradeoffs, interpret life changes and revisit coverage decisions as needs evolve.

What this quote does not say

The sentence concerns AI-assisted Medicare plan selection, not a claim that no AI system should ever operate autonomously. The next sentences say licensed insurance agents supply judgment, accountability, and empathy and that technology should support professionals rather than replace them.
The op-ed is jointly by Jerome Adams and eHealth CEO Derrick Duke, so its wording is attributable to both authors rather than uniquely to Adams. The page also identifies Adams as a member of eHealth’s public policy advisory committee and eHealth as a private online health insurance marketplace.

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As CMS considers how to use AI to optimize Medicare plan selection and expand access to coverage, the focus should be on clear guardrails, transparency and meaningful human oversight alongside innovation.

Jerome M. Adams

Former U.S. surgeon general; Purdue distinguished professor

In a 2026 op-ed co-written with Derrick Duke, former U.S. surgeon general Jerome Adams called for clear guardrails, transparency, and meaningful human oversight in Medicare’s use of AI for plan selection.

Source Archived

Context and checks

Surrounding words

The most effective model is not one where technology replaces people, but one where technology supports professionals in delivering better guidance. As CMS considers how to use AI to optimize Medicare plan selection and expand access to coverage, the focus should be on clear guardrails, transparency and meaningful human oversight alongside innovation. If implemented thoughtfully, it can make Medicare enrollment more personalized, more transparent and less intimidating. The opportunity before CMS is not only technological. It is human.

What this quote does not say

The op-ed is jointly by Jerome Adams and eHealth CEO Derrick Duke, so its wording is attributable to both authors rather than uniquely to Adams. The page also identifies Adams as a member of eHealth’s public policy advisory committee and eHealth as a private online health insurance marketplace.
The article argues for responsible AI use rather than against AI-assisted plan selection: it says AI can improve comparisons, access, transparency, and confidence when it supports licensed agents instead of replacing them.

How this was checked

Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

Reviewed by

an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check